The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-24
A PHONETIC SYSTEM.
Illiterate Methods of a Lately Deceased Ne,
York millionaire.

Illiterate Methods of a Lately Deceased New
York millionaire.
Brooklyn Citizen
A gentleman who was once in the service of
the old house of Moses Taylor & Co., and who
is now a well-to-do banker. was discussing the
career of his employer. In the course of his
marks he narrated several anecdotes of him
which are quite int resting Mr.. Taylor. with
all his genius as merchant, was quite Hitter
ate. When he wrote his name it was scrawl
in which there was a general resemblance to the
two words but a lack of anything like detail in
the formation of the different letters. Once
known however. it was recognized. 1t was sui
generis For long time it puzzled his book
keeper how to properly debit Mr.. Taylor's checks.
Giving them, as any man does for private pur-
poses and for business matters. he perplexed the
bookkeeper about the account to which they
should be respectively charged This entailed no
end of trouble. Either Mr.. Taylor had to be
consulted whether check was to- he entered
against him in his private account, or the nature
of the payment had to be examined to determine
if it had been made on the firm account. At last
the bookkeeper discovered that slight little
.curley queue he called it, at the end of the
signature meant "& Co." The old gentleman
methodical enough to make the distinction
every time he signed for the firm. Thencefor-
ward the bookkeeper had no trouble. If Moses
Taylor was peculiar about writing his name. it
may be surmised that he had his own methods
of spelling the words Of the English language.
His system was simply phonetic Apropos of this
idiosyncrasy, the same gentleman told another
anecdote which have never seen in print, al
though it mas familiar sound Mr. Taylor, in the
earlier days of his business career, was careful
to close the safe every evening and take the key
up home with him. One morning he was too
sick to come down town. He sent for the book
keeper, gave him the key. and told him the safe
had been locked the com oination Asia"
The book-keeper went to the office and tried to
open the safe but the door refused TO bulge
In vain were the turns made over and over
again on the letters Of the oriental continent.
The book keeper began to fancy that be had mis-
understood the talismanic word given him by
the sick man. Suddenly it flashed on him that,
perhaps Mr.. Taylors conception Of its orthoe-
ranhy was not orthodox as that laid down in
the gazetteer. Accordingly, he FASTENED uptown
again. and inquired if he had understood the
word Alright
Certainly. Ashley, of counsel"
The book keeper saw that he had to practice
little diplomacy. now, to get at his employers
com animation Of letters
But: Mr.. Taylor, there several ways Of
spelling Asia How do you spell tq'
why, A-sh-e, TO be sure; and if As-h-e don't
spell Ashley, what in thunder does it spelia"
The ook-keeper politely conceded with him,
retired, and rushed down to the office, where
business had been suspended during his absence
A few turns of the wrist soon opened the obsti-
nate door, and the great house of Moses Taylor
& Co. once more resumed the lively tenor of its
way.